Group opposes homes plan

PUBLISHED: 02:01 24 April 2008 | UPDATED: 09:00 10 June 2010

A BUDLEIGH Salterton residents' group is again preparing to go into battle against developers who want to change the character of the town. The Westfield Road/Station Road Action Group, which in 2006 successfully challenged the building of an eight-apartm

A BUDLEIGH Salterton residents' group is again preparing to go into battle against developers who want to change the character of the town.The Westfield Road/Station Road Action Group, which in 2006 successfully challenged the building of an eight-apartment complex on the site, has swung into action over plans to build 13 retirement homes on land at 3 and 5 Westfield Road.The action group this week celebrated the town council's recommendation to refuse the plans and will now wait for the district council's decision before making their next move.Action group chairman John Saul said: "We have opposed it on the grounds of overdevelopment and traffic problems. "It will drive a coach and horses through the design statement."It's a development in a low density area which is higher than it should be."Budleigh's town councillors on Monday said the application was an overdevelopment and out of keeping with the area. Members raised concerns about a lack of visitor parking, problems caused by surface water run-off and the loss of a hedge and boundary wall. The developers plan to store drainage water in an underground tank before releasing it into the main system - but the council said South West Water does not allow such a move.The council suggested a contribution should be made towards Budleigh's health centre and the town's services for the elderly if the development went ahead.Blue Cedar Homes plans to create a 'retirement community' by demolishing two houses on the site, Sherwood and Wenlock.It proposes to build 13 'cottages' - some with garages - set around a 'village green' and 12 car parking spaces - one space is allocated for visitor parking.